DNA leads to arrest in burglary at Quincy seafood market

Police find

DNA discovered on a pair of metal shears left on the roof of a burglarized seafood market in Quincy led police to a jailed repeat robber who is now charged with stealing cash from the market.

Quincy Police Lt. John Steele told the Patriot Ledger that Michael Guarniere was serving time on a robbery conviction at the Dedham jail when police obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Police believe the 55-year-old robbed Burke’s Seafood on Billings Road on Jan. 29 of last year by breaking in through a skylight. The break-in occurred at 9 a.m. on a day the store was closed for vacation.

Steele said Guarniere appeared to have drilled out screws in the skylight and also used metal shears to gain entry. The shears were left behind and found by detectives. A state crime lab determined human oils on the tools were a DNA match for Guarniere, Steele said.

Steele said Guarniere set off a motion alarm when he went through the skylight into the seafood market and left through a door that police found unlocked. Guarniere allegedly stole $75 from the market.

Based on the DNA match, police obtained a warrant for Guarniere’s arrest, and later found he was already in the Norfolk County jail on a different robbery charge. Guarniere was due to be released in February, Steele said.

Guarniere, who told police he lives in Bourne, will be arraigned in Quincy District Court on the Burke’s Seafood robbery case. He will be charged with breaking and entering during the day to commit a felony, malicious destruction of property valued over $250, and larceny under $250.

Steele said police believe Guarniere worked alone in the robberies.

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